Am I the only one that hates that we don't have a natural rival? The big opening night triple header on CBC and everyone's got a natural dance partner and we get da ducks ... Can't wait for Phoenix to become the Seattle thunderbirds ... Er whatever. if they could have put the jets In the west at least but even then they aren't really a natural rivalry..

ukcanuck wrote:Am I the only one that hates that we don't have a natural rival? The big opening night triple header on CBC and everyone's got a natural dance partner and we get da ducks ... Can't wait for Phoenix to become the Seattle thunderbirds ... Er whatever. if they could have put the jets In the west at least but even then they aren't really a natural rivalry..

The league just figures we are trading Lou for Perry and picks following the game, and this makes it easier on both guys for travel

Who will start in net for the Canucks? CoryWho will centre our second line? There's no 2nd line, Lappy will get the most icetime, more than Ebbett. What will the defensive pairings be? Edler, Bieksa, Hamhuis, Garrison, Ballard, Vandermeer....shuffle around. How will Kassian look? Like the Brabarian. Will Ballard still be on the team? YESWill Booth bait a Dude? I hope it's not Meerschaum or Matty in the stands.....

Go Canucks Go

ps: Fuck this shit, 3 weeks ago i told to myself not to spend anything on this league but renewed NHL Game Center today...It's all 'bout the Canucks, fuck this league...

ps: Who will score the 1st goal? Mason Raaaaaymoooond..... Already in game mode, did i miss something?

The player I'll have my eye on the most is Kassian. A lot turns on whether he can truly be a top 6 forward. If he can show that he can be that guy, it begins to address many issues for the Canucks. ZK could either be part of a more legit 2nd line, or move to the 1st line and let Burrows strengthen the 2nd line etc. It also would crank open the somewhat mythical window more if we can see him as a Canuck top 6 power forward for the next 5-10 years. I make no call on this because I really don't have a sense how good or bad he will turn it out to be...but when #9 is on the ice, I'll be looking for some hitting, smart play, and pace from him.

Boston Canucker wrote:The player I'll have my eye on the most is Kassian. A lot turns on whether he can truly be a top 6 forward. If he can show that he can be that guy, it begins to address many issues for the Canucks. ZK could either be part of a more legit 2nd line, or move to the 1st line and let Burrows strengthen the 2nd line etc. It also would crank open the somewhat mythical window more if we can see him as a Canuck top 6 power forward for the next 5-10 years. I make no call on this because I really don't have a sense how good or bad he will turn it out to be...but when #9 is on the ice, I'll be looking for some hitting, smart play, and pace from him.

I find Kassian interesting too, mostly because of the things I heard about him being a power forward who forgets his size and starts to try and finesse too much. I wonder if maybe this will make him a perfect playoff fit for the Sedins. Maybe he has the right combination of skills that can keep up with the Sedin's on ice theatre AND be a counter to the idea that to beat the Sedins you have to be physical with them. Pyatt was the last guy with that hope lets see if its the era of Cerebral Kassassian

Man is it good to be talking about the game again. Here's to a productive quick season and a successful playoffs!

I think its important to temper our expectations of Kassian, at least from a production stand point. I suspect the coaching staff has made it known to ZK that in order for him to succeed, he'll need to do what he can do best. Go to the dirty area's, play smart-responsible hockey, and stand up for himself and his mates. No one questions his skill set, it's his consistency of play within the teams' system that AV et al want to see. Should he prove capable of adapting to this, everything else should fall into place.

I'm intrigued to see:-Obviously, how far ZK has come since last Spring-What kind of game big #5 will bring, beyond the howitzer-How #5 and a newly minted Edler will mesh as the top unit-How effective Manny will be now that more time has passed with training/healing-How Cory will respond to his first anointment of #1 guy. and lastly,

The Ray-Ebbett-Kass line should be alright imo, it's a good chemistry mix with speed/setup man/big brute.

Plus they don't have much expectation put on them to produce mad points as they are a temp line till RK17/Boother come back, so there shouldn't be that much pressure, they can just play relaxed a bit after the adrenaline rush is over from playing the first meaningful game in many moons.